At first, I was not going to see this movie.  I am a tried and true, full on, he can do no wrong, fan of Matt Damon and his best work, the Bourne Trilogy.  Robert Ludlum only wrote three books.  Where the heck did The Bourne Legacy come from?  And, you think you can just replace Matt Damon.  Jeremy Renner is a good actor, but he is no Matt Damon.

But, then I calmed down, came back to reality and looked a little further in to this movie.  I get it now.  The Bourne LEGACY – this is what happened after the fact.

I am happy I figured it out (I am smart, but slow) because it was an interesting movie.  The movie is about another agent named Aaron Cross played by Jeremy Renner in another government program to build/engineer the perfect agent.  I enjoyed it.  And, it paid correct homage to Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne.  I didn’t love it, though.  With that title, they had a lot to live up to.  And, it feel a little short.  But, here is what I liked:

It had its own language.  I felt like I had an education in bioengineering after leaving this movie.  Expect to learn the appropriate use of the following terms and concepts:

chems

protocol

In the program
Unacceptable
Outcome
Neurol design
Programmable behavior
Program participants
Down stream
D track team
Pull that access
Drop a bag over this.
Viral him out

Off the grid
The trail is definitive

Stay enhanced

More people in my circle need to see the movie so they know what the hell I am talking about when I tell them to send in the “D track team” to “viral me out.”

Another highlight of this film was the greatness of Edward Norton.  I love him almost as much as I love Matt Damon.  American History X, Primal Fear, & Fight Club – need I say more.  He had some great lines in this movie:

“Jason Bourne was just the tip of the iceberg.”

“That’s Aaron Cross.We have never seen evaluations like this. He’s Treadstone without the inconsistency.”

“This contingency was covered loud and clear.”

“You and I have our jobs because we have the strength to do what’s necessary.”
“Morally indefensible and absolutely necessary.”

“Everybody find another gear.” 

“Same outcome without the emotional attachment.”

And, these lines deserve mention because they added a little comic relief to a very intense movie.

“I don’t know, are you suppose to kill me or give me a pep talk?”

“You’re the director of the C.I.A. Act like it.”

“Well, I’m not just a science project, doc.”

“You’ve been shot.” “That’s alright.” 

“You were given a Ferrari and your people treated it like a lawnmower.”

If you are a Jason Bourne fan, you will enjoy the movie because it takes the concepts in the original trilogy to an extreme and scary level. If you are a Jeremy Renner fan, you might be disappointed.  Anyone could have played this role.

If you want visit a dozen international cities in 2 hours, experience a pretty cool motorcycle chase and finally realize why you were required to take that basic biology course in college, then by all means.  Go see this movie.

BTW, I am starting a Jason Bourne meets Aaron Cross movie petition.  That movie must be made.  Who’s with me?

Related Post:  Bourne and Generic Engineering